Renée Fleming Won’t Perform at Kennedy Center Concerts

The soprano, who previously resigned as an artistic adviser, was scheduled to sing with the National Symphony Orchestra in May.

The soprano Renée Fleming will not be part of two scheduled performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to the center’s website.

Fleming, one of the world’s great opera singers, resigned as an artistic adviser to the Kennedy Center nearly one year ago.

Since the center’s board of directors decided last month to add President Trump’s name to the building, several artists have cut ties. The banjoist Béla Fleck withdrew from performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that playing at the center had “become charged and political,” and the “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz said he would not host a gala there.

Ms. Fleming and the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday evening. The center’s website said that she had withdrawn from two May concerts with the orchestra “due to a scheduling conflict” and that a new performer would be announced.

When she stepped down as an artistic adviser, Ms. Fleming said, “I’ve treasured the bipartisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best.” She added, “I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country.”

Mr. Trump has exerted his influence on the traditionally nonpartisan Kennedy Center in his second term, naming an ally as its executive director and filling its board with his supporters. He also hosted the Kennedy Center Honors last month.

Ms. Fleming sang at President Biden’s inauguration and was honored by the Kennedy Center during his term. In May, she performed at the Kennedy Center during the Washington National Opera’s annual gala.

The opera recently announced it was leaving the arts center, where it had performed since 1971, because of a drop in donations and attendance since Mr. Trump’s intervention.

Adam Nagourney contributed reporting.

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